This book continues to be quite thought provoking for me. I am the poster child for people who spent years and years considering and calling myself "Christian" but yet not at all understanding the concept of being a "disciple". I went through an official "saving" I guess I will say at the leading of our pastor's wife when I was about 11. But life went on ... and my life for the next 25 or so years probably didn't look a lot different than it would have looked had I not gone through that.

Each day now I understand more and more that faith is a journey and that God calls us to live out our faith and seek a deeper relationship with Him at all times. I understand more and more that Jesus really was here to serve as a model for us.

I understand that ... but making the rubber meet the road can be a real challenge.

Anyway, I just completed Chapter 5 of Dallas Willard's book The Great Omission. Chapter 5 is titled "The Key To The Keys To The Kingdom". In this chapter, he writes primarily about honoring the Sabbath. When I was growing up, it was pretty much mandatory at our house that very little work was done on Sunday. I have continued that through most of my life but not always.

Willard, though, goes much further than just not working. He carries Sabbath to meaning a time of silence. As he explains, how can we expect to really connect with God if we're talking all the time? I have to admit that it is pretty thought-provoking stuff. I have often dreamed of going away for a short retreat of silence and doing nothing. Maybe someday I will be able to really give that a try as part of my spiritual discipline.